How Far Should Tank Be From Wall Behind?

[irishmarine]

Hi

Getting a new 120G tank for my office. Was wondering how far off the back wall should a tank be without looking too bad? ie I don’t want a big gap off the wall it’ll look bad

[jamie1981]

Just enough for plumbing and access to a outlet if it's behind the tank. Hopefully it's a GCFI outlet also.

[ReefTankHunter]

For me, I like to stay 4" to 6" away.Reason being for wires to be run.. But more importantly, If you have sheet rock wall,the salt creep will eat your wall. I have seen it done.

[Ruu]

Because I'm running parallel to the floor joists, one of which is nicely notched, my structural engineer recommended pulling the tank out a little further to sit on the additional support that we added. That put me about a foot out from the wall, and honestly unless you are right at the side of the tank you wouldn't really notice. It is a relatively short wall, with limited viewing opportunities to the sides though, so your mileage may vary.

Dave

[shellsea]

I am moving my 120 so it will be a tad more than 12 inches from the wall. More room for ato and dosing containers etc. then I have 12 inch kitchen cabinets to slide in and out that block the view from side.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jamie1981]

For me, I like to stay 4" to 6" away.Reason being for wires to be run.. But more importantly, If you have sheet rock wall,the salt creep will eat your wall. I have seen it done.

If your getting salt creep on the wall it is not set up properly.

[Reefpuck]

I only have a few inches. Only downside is I had to replace the main return line (pcv)...and getting my arm/hand back there to cut/remove it was a pain in the rear. I still like it as flush to the wall as possible...just for looks.

[irishmarine]

How much is too much tank for the floor joists to be ok? Ground floor situation

[irishmarine]

People will be walking into my office with a straight on side view of the tank so the minimum for me the better in the gap behind the wall. Non aquarists are not into seeing cables and pipes and just want to take in the beauty of what you have
That’s just my take on it

[nycman]

House of Fins in Greenwich, CT suggests no less than 5"...I agree.

[irishmarine]

Good to have a professional opinion on this!
What about from a side wall?
This tank is going into a position in a corner with a rear and side wall

[golfish]

If heat could be an issue, an exterior wall can make it worse. Just saying

[irishmarine]

If heat could be an issue, an exterior wall can make it worse. Just saying

Good point
I think because this office does get warm in summer I’ll be getting a chiller for sure

[ca1ore]

I guess it depends on what you want to put back there. If something like a vortech or an external overflow box then 5" nominally. Otherwise I can see no reason for more than an inch or two.

[irishmarine]

I guess it depends on what you want to put back there. If something like a vortech or an external overflow box then 5" nominally. Otherwise I can see no reason for more than an inch or two.

This is what I would have thought too

Like I said people walk into my office and will be staring at the side of the tank as they come in the door
But facing it when they sit
So I wanted to keep the gap to a minimum unless absolutely needed

[Misled]

Otherwise I can see no reason for more than an inch or two.

Mine is about an inch. Has been for over 10 years. Hasn't been a problem.

[Bent]

Mine is shoved right up against the wall. The plumbing is run through the wall.

[ca1ore]

Mine is about an inch. Has been for over 10 years. Hasn't been a problem.

Exactly ...... and likewise :lol: Just another example of over-thinking things IME.

[d0ughb0y]

if your red sea tank has nothing behind it, no plumbing, no on tank attachment, etc. then you can put it flush against the wall if you want to. perhaps you should have phrased your question specific to your tank so you don't get generic answers from people with different tank setup than yours. Or your best bet is to just email red sea.

[irishmarine]

if your red sea tank has nothing behind it, no plumbing, no on tank attachment, etc. then you can put it flush against the wall if you want to. perhaps you should have phrased your question specific to your tank so you don't get generic answers from people with different tank setup than yours. Or your best bet is to just email red sea.

I have two tanks, in the midst of purchasing a second, unlike the Red Sea tank I don’t believe it to have any plumbing at the back
I don’t think Red Sea or a manufacturer are the ultimate knowledge on this subject, I just wondered people’s thoughs and if they felt one way or another a certain distance was needed or not

Good to get the different opinions

[ca1ore]

The only credible reason I can think of for keeping a bit of a gap is to account for the wall being out of plumb. When my tank is perfectly level, the gap between the wall and the tank is 1/2" less at the top than it is at the bottom. My house is old and everything has settled.

[HBtank]

Enough for your piping/overflow, with an 1/2-1" of actual gap.

[ReefTankHunter]

If your getting salt creep on the wall it is not set up properly.

Go ahead, set up your tank right up against the wall with an open top. I don't care how you set it up, it damage your wall.

[Valentini89]

Go ahead, set up your tank right up against the wall with an open top. I don't care how you set it up, it damage your wall.

I agree. My 26g produces enough that it has covered the wall directly above AND a bit below the top of the tank. Not only that but the lid to the tank is covered as well as my carbon reactor, biopellet reactor and top of my heater. I keep saying I'm going to clean the wall. I'm not worried about damage though because it's a thick slat wood wall.

[Bent]

Go ahead, set up your tank right up against the wall with an open top. I don't care how you set it up, it damage your wall.

Mine is fine. You guys do realize latex paint is pretty water resistant right?

I’m sure everyone here showers daily. The steam from the shower every day exposes your walls to more moisture than you tank ever could.

[d0ughb0y]

moisture is not exactly the same as salt creep.
salt creep means that saltwater is splashing to the wall, perhaps due to (micro)bubbles, water splashing in the overflow etc., which is what I think jamie is referring to as tank not setup properly.
my tank is quite close to the wall and I don't get salt on the wall.
we all know evaporation alone does not have any salt content.

[ReefTankHunter]

moisture is not exactly the same as salt creep.
salt creep means that saltwater is splashing to the wall, perhaps due to (micro)bubbles, water splashing in the overflow etc., which is what I think jamie is referring to as tank not setup properly.
my tank is quite close to the wall and I don't get salt on the wall.
we all know evaporation alone does not have any salt content.

Bingo, We have a winner. This is correct. I have never owned tanks without overflows in the back. So that's why I would say for me, I keep mine away.

[scottbeyer101]

Given that your Red Sea Max is fairly self-contained (power mgmt equipment and such) you can get closer than many. Not sure how much clearance the lighting hinge assembly needs. Power heads were mentioned already. Could use some gap if that chiller is going in the cabinet so the heat has a chance to escape.

[gonereefing654]

I had this same issue with my tank at my old house. If the tank was all the way to the wall I would get salt on the wall. So I pulled it out some and stuck a fake plant next to it.
It worked in my favor because I fit my top off water in what looked like the pot for the plant

[billdogg]

I have always allowed for 4-6" between the tank and wall. Even if all the plumbing is under the tank and the electrical outlet is to the side of the tank, something willk find it's way back there and if there isn't enough room to retrieve it, there it will stay. No biggie if it's nothing of value. It's a whole other story if it's your prized, expensive fish flopping around back there.

[Bent]

I don’t have any salt creep on my wall...

The overflow is in the back, the wall is cut out and the overflow is in the wall. The other side is opened as well to access it from my basement stairwell. The entire hole is taped up with aluminum tape and coated with epoxy paint. The overflow has a lid.

[Member No. 1]

This is what I would have thought too

Like I said people walk into my office and will be staring at the side of the tank as they come in the door
But facing it when they sit
So I wanted to keep the gap to a minimum unless absolutely needed

If you can't get it close enough, why not add a filler board.

[Member No. 1]

Mine is fine. You guys do realize latex paint is pretty water resistant right?

I’m sure everyone here showers daily. The steam from the shower every day exposes your walls to more moisture than you tank ever could.
Before I can make a intelligent decision, please explain to me more about this shower every day concept.

[Bent]

Before I can make a intelligent decision, please explain to me more about this shower every day concept.


Hahaha

Mine are realistically usually weekly, on tuesdays.

[Member No. 1]

Aww shoot... that ain't gonna work, mama does her clothes scrub'n on Tuesdays.